Gestational diabetes is also known as diabetes in pregnancy and this is a condition that is characterized by the high blood glucose levels which is recognized first during the pregnancy.
This condition occurs at about 4% of the pregnancy.
Almost all of the women are suffering an impaired glucose resulting from the hormonal changes that happens during the pregnancy.
It means that the blood sugar is higher than the normal but not high enough to having diabetes.
At the 3rd trimester, these hormonal changes will bring the pregnant mom with the risk for suffering gestational diabetes.
During the pregnancy, there is an increased level of hormones that are generated into the placenta (an organ which connects the baby through umbilical cord to the uterus) that helps for shifting nutrients from mom to the fetus.
There are also hormones that are produced by placenta to aid and prevent the mom of developing hypoglycemia.
They are working to stop the unnecessary action of the insulin.
During the pregnancy course, the hormones are leading to higher blood glucose levels.
For the body to try to decrease the blood glucose levels, it will produce more insulin to have glucose in the cells and be used as energy.
The mom's pancreas is capable of producing additional insulin (3x as the normal amount) to be able to overcome the outcome of the increased hormones while in pregnancy, the blood sugar rises and result into gestational diabetes.
Complications: Diabetes may affect the baby's development all through the pregnancy period.
During the early pregnancy, diabetes of the mother may result to birth defects as well as the increased risk of miscarriage.
Lots of the birth defects are affecting the major organs like heart and brain.
While on the 2nd and 3rd trimester, diabetes of the mother may lead to over-nutrients and excessive growth of the baby.
Having the large baby will increase the risk of labor as well as delivery.
Large babies may require the need of caesarian operation to deliver the baby.